Print wheel setting and control means in data recorders

ABSTRACT

A printing machine for imprinting forms with variable data from manually settable print wheels. The machine is provided with a bed for retaining the print wheels and the form, and includes a platen carriage to perform a printing cycle. The print wheels are selectively positioned by keyset levers movable from a reference datum position for rotating each print wheel to a desired peripheral setting. The machine is intended for printing numerical amounts; usually money values for check or money order imprinting. The number value to which each wheel may be set makes a theoretical setting greater than an arbitrary value maximum. In the example given herein, the print wheels have numbers which could be set up to print a value of 299.99 but for the advantages of this invention which limits the value to 200.00. Therefore, the levers, wheels, and associated structure cooperates to lock one another against further rotary positioning of the wheels to greater values whenever a given maximum is reached. Secondly, if the keyset levers are not restored to their reference zero position after an imprint, a second operation is prevented.

United States Patent 91 Mahoney et al.

[ 51 Mar. 27, 1973 PRINT WHEEL SETTING AND 3,606,833 3/1970 Deutsch..10l/4S CONTROL MEANS 1N DATA RECQRDERS Primary Examiner-William B.Penn 75 Inventors: Donald T. Mahoney, Willoughby; A"mey RSseu and RayPyle 321i: A. Maul, Lyndhurst, both of [57] ABSTRACT A printing machinefor imprinting forms with variable [73] Asslgnee' Addressograph'MumgnlphCordata from manually settable print wheels. The porafion Cleveland Ohmmachine is provided with a bed for retaining the print [22] Filed: Sept.30, 1970 wheels and the form, and includes a platen carriage to performa printing cycle. The print wheels are selec- [ZH Appl' 76938 tivelypositioned by keyset levers movable from a reference datum position forrotating each print wheel [52] U.S.Cl ..101/45 to a desired peripheralsetting. The machine is in- [51] Int. Cl. ..B41j 29/58, B41f 3/04 tendedfor printing numerical amounts; usually money [58] Field of Search101/45, 95, 96, 93 MN, 209, values for check or money order imprinting.The 101/285, 45; 235/101, 103, 130, 131 number value to which each wheelmay be set makes a theoretical setting greater than an arbitrary valuemax- [56] References Cited imum. In the example given herein, the printwheels have numbers which could be set up to print a value UNITED STATESPATENTS of 299.99 but for the advantages of this invention 3,138,0916/1964 Maul ..101 45 which limits The value to 200m)- Therefofe, the3,142,243 7/19 4 g m 101/95 levers, wheels, and associated structurecooperates to 3,322,062 5/1967 Maul ..10l/45 lock one another againstfurther rotary positioning of ,5 967 a oney --l0l/4 the wheels togreater values whenever a given max- 3,405,634 Maul 61 a1 is reached3,469,777 9/1969 Anderson et al. ..235/l0l 3,508,488 4/1970 Maul et al...101/45 Secondly, if the k ys t l ers ar n t restored to their3,570,758 5/1971 Clemons 235/101 reference zero position after animprint, a second 3,002,686 10/1961 Heil et a1 23 5/l0l operation isprevented, 3,467,006 9/1969 Johnson. ..l0l/95 3,515,060 6/ 1970 Barbour101/45 3 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures /6 1| 1 M M 1 t o illPATENTEDHARZYIQB SHEEI 5 BF 7 PRINT WHEEL SETTING AND CONTROL MEANS INDATA RECORDERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Printing machines of the typereferred to as data recorders, are used for printing fixed informationfrom embossed plates, and variable information from rotatable wheels.Usually money or other numerical information is printed by such wheels.

Such a device can be set up to print checks and money orders. Prior tothis invention there were no satisfactory means for establishing fullvariability with an arbitrary maximum. Also, in writing money orders orchecks it is often desired to use some non-numerical mark before thefirst number, regardless of where the first number is located. Nomachine has heretofore been available to prevent accidental printing ofsuch mark instead of a desired zero within the limits of the actualnumber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The data recorder of the present invention isparticularly suited to the imprinting of postal money orders and, assuch, includes certain modifications of features and features inaddition to those of the machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,634,but it does not utilize an embossed printing plate or card. The machineof the present invention provides means for limiting the positioning ofthe keyset levers, and hence the print wheels, within a fixedpredetermined range such that the amount of the money order to beimprinted cannot exceed a fixed limit.

Blocking means including a stop device is also provided to prevent aprinting cycle if the keyset levers are not first restored to areference datum position following a preceding printing operation. Theblocking means may be arranged to prevent movement of the platencarriage through a printing cycle or, for example, in the case of a datarecorder having a pivotally mounted printing head, to prevent closing ofthe printing head. To eliminate the possibility that the machineoperator may record a new transaction using the information set into thevariable dataprint wheels for a previous transaction, blocking meansincluding a stop device is provided and arranged so that the keysetlevers must be moved to the reference datum position, and then reset tothe desired new setting, before a subsequent impression on the form canbe made. I

The machine also includes a reset means for quickly and accuratelyrestoring all of the keyset levers to the reference datum position,thereby unlocking the printing mechanism to permit a further printingoperation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a data recorderhaving variable data print wheels selectively settable under control ofkeyset levers, including control means associated with arresting meansto restrict positioning of the keyset levers within a fixedpredetermined range.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel lock-out mechanismto prevent movement of the platen carriage through a printing cycle ifthe keyset levers are not first restored to the reference datum positionfollowing a preceding printing operation, and prior to resetting thekeyset levers to a new setting for a subsequent printing cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reset means forsimultaneously restoring all of the keyset levers to the reference datumposition, thereby unlocking the lock-out mechanism and conditioning themachine to permit a further printing operation.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear hereinafter as thedescription proceeds.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a data recorder embodying thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a variable data printing unit, with thekeyboard cover in place, constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the variable data printing unit and showscontrol means for restricting the positioning of the keyset leverswithin a fixed predetermined range;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the planedesignated by line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a substantially schematic view as if taken along the planedesignated by line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the planedesignated by line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an oblique view looking substantially along the planedesignated by line 7-7 of FIG. 6, drawn to a larger scale, with portionsbroken away;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the planedesignated by line 8-8 of FIG. 7, drawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the planedesignated by line 9-9 of FIGS;

FIGS. I0 and 11 are detail with of a drive pawl and cam spacer assemblyassociated wit the control means shown in a neutral and an actuatedposition respective- 1/;

FIG. 12 is an explodedview of the drive pawl and cam spacer assembly asviewed from the front in FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 13-17 are schematic views showing the operation of the controlmeans for various settings of the keyset levers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Keyboard and Print WheelsAsshown in FIG. 1, the data recorder comprises a 7 base 10, a .bed 12, aroller platen carriage 14, a keyboard indicated generally at 16, and aseries of variable data print wheels indicated as a group generally at18 and designated individually as P1 to P5. The keyboard includes keysetlevers lKl to KS for manually positioning the print wheelsPl-PSrespectively. A fee code print wheel 20 is also provided inalignment with group 18, and is controlled by a fee code lever 22 on thekeyboard 16. A reset lever 24 is also mounted on the keyboard forrestoring the keyset levers KL-KS and 22 to a zero or reference datumposition.

The bed of the data recorder preferably is also provided with additionalprinting devices including a group 26 of date code wheels, and a stationplate 28, which contains fixed information printing characters. A formoverll' the print wheels 18, 20 and 26 and the station plate The form Fis properly registered and held in place by surfaces 30 and 32 andcorner guides 34 and 36.

Refer to FIGS. 3 (sheet 2), (sheet 4) and 13-17 (sheet 7). All of thekeyset levers Kl-KS are substantially of the same configuration and eachincludes a cam disc 38 providing a dwell surface, a lobe surface, and anotch. The notch is positioned at a unique location with respect to thedwell and the lobe. The relationship of the dwell and the lobe to thenotch is the same for each of the keyset levers K2-K5, but thisrelationship is different for the keyset lever K1. Accordingly, forbrevity and ease of understanding, since the set of mechanism for eachof the keyset levers K2- K5, as well as the corresponding print wheelsP2-P5 and associated mechanisms related to each digit are identical inoperation, only the sets associated with the keyset levers K1 and K2will be described hereinafter.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the keyset levers Kl-KS and the fee codelever 22 are pivotally supported on a shaft 40. A pair of side plates 42and 44, as seen in FIG. 2, extend to the area of shaft 40. Shaft 40 iscarried by the side plates. The side plates are mounted to the undersideof the bed 12 and extend rearwardly to a position below the keyboard 16.Each of the keyset levers comprises radially extending membersdesignated as finger 46, gear segment 48, and support arm 50. Each ofthe keyset levers Kl-KS, but not code lever 22, also includes the camdisc 38.

The finger 46 and the support arm 50, in each case, are offset from theplane of the corresponding gear segment 48 by an amount sufficient tospread the control portions of the keyset levers to a workable spacingwhile the gear segments remain closely spaced to drive the print wheels.FIG. 4 shows offsetting.

See FIG. 5. The finger 46 is provided with an ear 52 for retaining oneend of an indicator strip 54, the other end being retained by thesupport arm 50. Although not shown in the drawings, the indicator strip54 for each of the keyset levers Kl-KS and 22 is provided with digits0-9, and the indicator strip for each of the keyset levers Kl-K3 isadditionally provided with a symbol in the form of an asterisk or thelike at a position immediately preceding the zero digit. The digits andsymbols on the indicator strips correspond to the digits and symbols onthe print wheels Pl-PS and 20 provide a visual indication, throughwindows 56, of the digits selected for printing.

A detenting mechanism includes a notched surface seen just under thefinger caps of the levers in FIG. 3. While not an unusual arrangementand hence not shown in detail in the drawings, thedetenting meanspreferably comprises an arcuate member conforming generally in shape tothe indicator strip 54, and has a series of notches in one edge thereofcorresponding in number to the digits and the symbols on the printwheel. A spring plunger suitably mounted on each of the keyset levers isurged into the notches to retain the keyset lever in the set position.The detenting means atfords an initial coarse setting of the printwheels, the final accurate alignment of the print wheels being effectedin a manner to be described hereinafter.

The gear segment 48 of each of the keyset levers Kl-KS and lever 22 isoperatively associated with a gear train comprising an idler gear 58, adrive gear 60, and a pinion 62. Pinion 62 is integral with a printwheel, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 8. Each of the print wheels isrotatably supported on a shaft 68 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) such that thecharacter on the selected face of the print wheel extends upwardlythrough an opening in the bed 12 to lie in a printing plane. Thus, whena keyset lever Kl-KS or 22 is moved to select a desired character to beprinted, as viewed through the windows 56, the gear segment 48, theidler gear 58, the drive gear 60, and the pinion 62 cause acorresponding print wheel Pl-PS or 20 to present the selected characteron the print wheel in proper printing position.

Print Wheel Alignment As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, in order toaccurately position the print wheels Pl-PS and 20, and to hold themagainst moving during an imprinting operation, the machine is providedwith a pair of pawls 70 and 72 adapted to engage and align the drivegears 60 and the print wheels 18 respectively. The pawl 70 is pivotallymounted on a shaft 76 and is biased by apair of springs 78 and 80 (seeFIG. 7) in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8 so as tourge a nose 82 of the pawl 70 into engagement with the teeth of thedrive gears 60 when the roller platen carriage 14 is moved through aprinting operation. The pawl nose 82 has a sharp edge and the teeth onthe drive gears are formed with a sharp pointed shape. This providesassurance that proper aligning engagement of the pawl with the gearteeth can be achieved even in cases of fairly severe initialmisalignment when, for example, the detenting means described above hasfailed to perform fully in the manner intended.

The pawl 72 is mounted on a rocker member 84 pivoted on a shaft 86.Print wheels 18 each have a series of location fixing notches 74. Pawl72 is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the notches 74in the peripheries of the print wheels. As seen best in FIG. 8, rocker84 has a leg carrying a roller 92 adapted to coact with the pawl 70.

With the roller platen carriage 14 in a home position as shown in thedrawings, the rocker 84 and the pawls 70 and 72 are in the positionsshown in FIGS. 6 and 7. However, when the roller platen carriage ismoved through a printing stroke to an actuated position, from left toright as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 7, the rocker 84 is caused to pivot aboutthe shaft 86 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6, therebymoving the roller 92 of the rocker out of contact engagement with thepawl 70, to permit the pawl to pivot and to move the nose 82 of the pawlbetween adjacent teeth of the drive gears 60, and moving the pawl 72into engagement with the notches 74 in the print wheels as shown in FIG.8.

The rocker 84 is biased in a clockwise direction by a pair of springs 94and 96, seen in FIG. 7. Spring 94 is seen in FIG. 8. The springs areconnected to a pair of pins 98 and 100, the pin 98 being fixed in therocker 84 and extending outwardly through clearance openings 102 in theside plates 42 and 44, and the pin 100 being fixed in the side plates 42and 44. The parts are so designed that the pawls 70 and 72 engage insequence. First the nose 82 of the pawl 70 penetrates between the teethof the drive gear 60 until stops, designated 104, strike upon the sideplates 42 and 44. Thereafter, the

roller 92 moves out of contact with the pawl 70 and continued motion ofthe rocker 84 produces final locating and alignment of the print wheelsby driving the pawl 72 into the print wheel notches 74.

Means for lmparting Pivotal Movement to the Rocker 84 An actuator lever106 extends across the front of the machine generally parallel to theplaten carriage travel.

See FIG. 7. Lever 106 is pivotally mounted on a pin 108 provided in amounting bracket 110 affixed to the underside of the bed 12, and isbiased by a weak spring (not shown in the drawings) in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 7. As best seen in FIG. 7, an upper cen tralportion of the actuator lever provides an arcuate camming surface 114,and terminates in a straight section 116. The upper central portion andsection 116 extend as a lateral flange from the pivot area of lever 106.The camming surface 114 and the straight section 116 are adapted tocontact the upper surface of an actuating roller 118 carried by carriage14 when the platen carriage 14 is in its home position.

The other end of the actuator lever 106 extends towards the rocker 84and terminates in a flat ear 120 which coacts with the rocker. Thesprings 94 and 96, acting through the rocker 84 on the ear 120, tend torock the actuator lever in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 7.

Operation of Rocker 84 From the description thus far, it will be seenthat movement of the roller platen carriage 14 to its actuated position,from left to right as viewed in FIG. 7,

causes the actuating roller 118 to ride out from under the straightsection 116 of the actuator lever 106 and into rolling contact with thecamming surface 114 of the actuator lever, thereby allowing the actuatorlever to pivot about the pin 108 in a counterclockwise direction.Because the portion 114 is a lateral flange, roller 118 is positioned ina path which will move past the pin 108. Lever 106 drops free of roller118 after the roller 118 passes the end of the flange 114. This motionallows the rocker 84 to be pivoted by the springs 94 and 96 in aclockwise direction asviewed in FIGS. 6 and 8, to properly position thepawls 70 and 72 respectively, in working relation with the teeth of thedrive gears 60 and the notches 74 in the print wheels Pl-PS and 20. Atthe same time that the pawls 70 and 72 are fully engaged with the drivegears and the notches to securely retain the print wheels againstmovement, the pivotal movement of the rocker 84 and of the actuatorlever 106 are terminated, and the roller 118 runs beyond the end of thecamming surface 114. The actuator lever 106 then is in the positionshown in phantom in FIG. 7. Further movement of the roller platencarriage to the right completes the printing stroke. The return movementof the platen carriage first brings the roller 118 back beneath thecamming surface 114, and further movement to its home position restoresthe mechanism to the full line positions shown in the drawings.

PRINT WHEEL CONTROLS The present invention also provides an arrangementto restrict positioning of the print wheels 18 within a Pl-PS arearranged to imprint amounts as follows:

Keyset lever Print Wheel Amount K1 P1 hundreds (l00.) K2 P2 tens 10.)

K3 P3 units (1.) 7

K4 P4 tenths (.10)

K5 P5 hundredths (.01)

As shown in FIG. 2, the keyset lever K1 is movable from an asteriskposition through digit 1 to the digit 2. The keyset levers K2 and K3 areeach movable in a range from an asterisk position to the digit 9. The

keyset levers K4 and K5 are each movable from a zero position to thedigit 9.

lnterrelated Control The control feature of this invention, to preventsetting more than a selected maximum numerical value into the wheelsPl-PS is best seen in FIG. 5. A pair of control members 124 and 126 arepivotally supported on a pin 128. The control member 124 is providedwith a cam follower pin 130 adapted to coact with the cam disc 38 of allof the keyset levers K2-K5, see FIG. 4, and also includes an arrestingmeans in the form of a blocking finger 132 adapted to coact with a notchin the cam disc 38 of only the keyset lever K1. The control member 126is similar to the control member 124 and comprises a cam follower pin134 for coaction only with the cam disc 38 of the keyset lever K1, andalso includes an arresting means comprising a blocking finger 136adapted to coact with a notch in the cam disc 38 of all of the keysetlevers K2-K5. The control members 124 and 126 are urged by springs 138and 140 respectively, in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, tomaintain the pins 130 and 134 in contact engagement with the cam discs38, and the blocking fingers 132 and 136 out of engagement withthenotches in the cam discs. Movement of the keyset levers. from thereference datum position to-position the corresponding print wheels to adesired value printing printing position causes the cam discs 38 to actagainst the pins 130 and 134, thereby pivoting the control members 124and 126 against the action of the springs 138 and 140 and moving theblocking fingers 132 and 136 into the notches provided in theperipheries of the cam discs.

With reference to FIGS. 13-17, the operation of the control members 124and 126 and the cam discs 38, to limit movement of the keyset leverswithin a fixed range not to exceed a value of 200., will now bedescribed. The cam disc 38 of the keyset lever K1 comprises a dwellsurface 142, a lobe 144 and a notch 146. The cam disc 38 of the keysetlever K2 comprises a dwell surface 148, a lobe and a notch 152. With thekeyset lever K1 set at the asterisk position and the keyset levers K2-K5set at their zero positions, the cam discs and the control members arepositioned as indicated in FIG. 13, Le, the pins 130 and 134 arepositioned on the dwells .148 and 142 respectively, and the blockingfingers 132 and 136 are out of engagement with the notches 146 and 152respectively.

Movement of the keyset lever K1 to the digit 1 position (100.) rotatesthe cam disc 38 of the keyset lever Kl to the position shown in FIG. 14,wherein the dwell 142 is now positioned such that the pin 134 isimmediately adjacent the lobe 144. The notch 146, of course, is alsomoved a corresponding distance although it is still in alignedrelationship with the blocking finger 132. All of the other parts remainunchanged from the positions shown in FIG. 13.

Movement of the keyset lever K1 to the digit 2 position (200.) rotatesthe cam disc 38 of the keyset lever K1 to the position illustrated inFIG. 15. This movement of the cam disc causes the lobe 144 to actagainst the pin 134 and pivots the control member 126 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 15, against theurging of the spring 140, moving the blocking finger 136, which spansall of the keyset levers K2-K5, into engagement with the aligned notches152 in each of the cam discs 38 of the keyset levers K2-K5. When sopositioned, with the keyset lever Kl moved to its terminal digit 2position (FIG. 2) and the blocking finger 136 engaged with the notches152 hence preventing further movement of the keyset levers K2-K5, theunit is conditioned to preclude the possibility of setting the printwheels 18 to imprint an amount in excess of 200.

FIG. 16 shows the arrangement of parts as they would appear when theunit is set for imprinting a value of 10. The positions of the cam disc38, the notch 146 and the pin 134 associated with the keyset lever K1are in the same positions as shown in FIG. 13, wherein the hundredsprint wheel P1 is positioned to imprint an asterisk ahead of the firstsignificant digit 1 of the 10.

However, movement of the keyset lever K2 to the digit 1 position (10.),which also imparts movement to the keyset lever K3 from the asteriskposition to the zero position in a manner to be explained hereinbelow,rotates the cam disc of the keyset lever K2 causing the lobe 150 to actagainst the pin 130 and pivots the control member 124 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 16, against theurging of the spring 138, moving the blocking finger 132 into engagementwith the notch.146 in the cam disc 38 of the keyset lever K1. It will benoted, however, that the blocking finger 132 enters the notch 146 at itsleading end in respect to the direction of rotation of the cam disc asindicated by the arrows in FIGS. 13-17. The notch 146 is sufficientlywide to permit subsequent movement of the keyset lever Kl to the digit 1position (100.), such that the blocking finger 132 is positioned withinand against the trailing end of the notch, but the notch 146 is not wideenough to pennit further movement of the keyset lever K6 from the digit1 position to the digit 2 position as will be further explained.

In the FIG. 16 condition, all of the keyset levers K2-K5 may be moved totheir extreme digit 9 positions and could set up to print 99.99. But,because the keyset lever K1 is arrested against movement to the digit 2position by the blocking finger 132, only the figure 1" can be printedto thereby reach a maximum of 199.99. The print wheels P1-P5 cannot beset for imprinting a numerical value in excess of 199.99.

In FIG. 17, the keyset levers are shown in a position for imprinting avalue of 110. Movement of the keyset lever K1 rotates the cam disc 38such that the dwell 142 is moved to a position wherein the pin 134 isimmediately adjacent the lobe 144, and the notch 146 is positioned withits trailing end opposed to but out of engagement with the blockingfinger 132. Movement of the keyset lever K2 to the 10. position rotatesthe cam disc 38 of the keyset lever K2 and causes the lobe 150 to actagainst the pin 130. This action pivots the control member 124 and movesthe blocking finger 132 into engagement with the trailing end of thenotch 146. Since this position of the blocking finger 132 with respectto the notch 146 is effective to arrest movement of the keyset lever Klso that it cannot go beyond the digit 1 position, the print wheels Pl-PScannot be set for imprinting a value of more than 199.99, regardless ofwhere the other keyset levers K2-K5 may be positioned.

With apparatus as shown and described, movement of the keyset lever K1operates the control member 124 for simultaneously blocking all of thekeyset levers K2-K5 against movement under the described conditions, andmovement of any one of the keyset levers K2-K5 operates the controlmember 126 for effecting a blocking function of the keyset lever K1beyond the digit 1 position. This novel arrangement provides a reliablemeans for restricting movement of the keyset levers and theircorresponding print wheels within a fixed predetermined range, and maybe designed for a range for limiting the imprinting to any maximumamount, within the capacity of the machine, rather than just the 200.unit amount used as an example in the present description.

As shown in FIG. 2, the keyset levers Kl-K3 are each provided with anasterisk position immediately ahead of the zero position, and a similarasterisk is provided on each of the corresponding print wheels Pl-P3.Thus, under control of the keyset levers, the print wheels arepositionable for imprinting an asterisk in all positions preceding thefirst significant digit of the number amount to conform with standardpractice in the imprinting of checks and/or money orders. Means is alsoprovidedfor preventing the imprinting of an asterisk at a positionintermediate any of the digits.- Thus, movement of the keyset lever K1from the asterisk position also results in movement of the keyset leversK2 and K3 (and their corresponding print wheels) from their asterisk totheir zero positions, thereby avoiding the possibility of imprintingasterisks by the print wheels P2 and P3 at positions between thehundreds and the tenths digits. Also, movement of the keyset lever K2 iseffective to move the keyset lever K3 (and its corresponding printwheel) from its asterisk to its zero position, thereby preventing theimprinting of an asterisk by the print wheel P3 at a position betweenthe tens and the tenths digits.

The manner in which movement of K3 by K2 is accomplished will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4, 10, 11 and 12. As best shown inFIG. 12, a drive pawl 154 is pivotally mounted at 156 on the keysetlever K1, and the keyset lever K2 is provided with a cam spacer 158rotatably supported on the shaft 40. The cam spacer is secured to thekeyset lever K2 for rotation therewith by means of a square projection160 on the face of the cam spacer engaging a corresponding opening inthe keyset lever K2.

Referring now to FIGS. and 11, the drive pawl 154 comprises a camsurface 162 adapted to coact with a pin 164 fixed in the side plates 42and 44 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4) a nose 166 for driving the cam spacer158, a follower portion 168 and a spring 170. The cam spacer includes alip 172 against which the nose 166 acts and an arcuate surface 174.

With the keyset levers K1-K3 in theirasterisk positions, the drive pawl154, the cam spacer I58 and the related parts are in a neutral positionas seen in FIG. 10. When the keyset lever K1 is moved from the asteriskto the digit 1 position, the nose 166 of the drive pawl acts against thelip 172 of the cam spacer thereby rotating the cam spacer, and movingthe keyset lever K2 to which it is secured, from the asterisk to thezero position, in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 3, 10 and 11.As the cam spacer is being rotated, the cam surface 162 of the drivepawl contacts the pin 164 causing the drive pawl to move towards theright as viewed in these Figures, against the bias of the spring 170, soas to urge the nose 166 out of contact engagement with the lip 172 ofthe cam spacer 158. When the keyset lever Kl reaches its digit 1position the partsare in an actuated position as seen in FIG. 11,wherein the nose 166 is clear of the lip 172 and the spring 170 urgesthe cam surface 162 against the pin 164.

Further movement of the keyset lever K1 from the digit 1 to the digit 2position causes the follower portion 168 of the drive pawl 154 to ridefree of the arcuate surface 174, (see FIG. 11) thus avoiding furtherrotary driving motion of the cam spacer and of the keyset lever K2.Return movement of the keyset lever K1 to its asterisk position restoresthe drive pawl and the spring from the positions shown in FIG. 11 to thepositions shown in FIG. 10 but, because the cam spacer 158 is secured tothe keyset lever K2 and the drive pawl 154 is mounted on the keysetlever K1, the cam spacer is not driven during the return movement of thedrive pawl, and the keyset lever K2 is not restored from the zero to theasterisk position.

Although only one drive pawl and cam spacer arrangement has beendescribed in detail herein, a similar arrangement is provided for thekeyset levers K2 and K3, as shown in FIG. 12. Thus, the keyset lever K2is provided with a drive pawl and a spring such as 154 and 170respectively, and the keyset lever K3 is provided with a cam spacer suchas 158. Movement of the keyset lever K2 from its asterisk to its zeroposition, through the drive pawl and the cam spacer, is effective tomove the keyset lever K3 from its asterisk to its zero position. In thisway, the keyboard 16 can only be set for imprinting asterisks in frontof the first significant digit of the numerical amount to be imprinted,and it cannot be inadvertantly set so as to cause imprinting of anasterisk between significant digits of the amount.

Platen Carriage Any suitable platen carriage of known construction maybe used to press the printing members for making a printing impression.The illustrated carriage and platen are of the construction andoperation as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,725 if further detail isdesired.

A roller platen 198 is carried in carriage 14 by a shaft 200. The shaftis eccentric and may be shifted to lift the roller platen at the end ofa printing stroke, for the return travel.

A leg 180 of the carriage extends below the surface of the bed 12 andcarries the roller 118.

Platen Carriage Lock-Out The machine of the present invention includes aplaten carriage lock-out arrangement to prevent opera tion of the datarecorder (by blocking the carriage against movement from the home to theactuated position) unless all of the keyset levers are restored to thereference datum position following a preceding printing cycle. Howeverit should be understood that the present invention is not limited topreventing a printing operation by blocking movement of the platencarriage, but is broad enough to embrace prevention by other means ofthe taking of an impression. Thus, in data recorders having a pivotailymounted printing head, for example, the taking of a printing impressionmay be prevented equally well by providing blocking means to preventclosing of the printing head unless all of the keyset levers arerestored to the reference datum or zero position following a precedingprinting cycle.

In the lower central area of FIG. 8, there is shown an actuator plate212 pivotally supported on a pin 214. Plate 212 serves the function of amemory in that it is moved into a locking position as a function ofplaten operatiomand is the key to locking the platen against furtheroperation until the platen is returned to its unlocked first position.The actuator plate includes a notch 216 which receives one end of aU-shaped overcenter spring 218 to retain the actuator plate in a firstor a second position. The spring 218 is held in place against the sideplate 42 by a holder 220 fastened to the side plate, and the holder isalso provided with a notch 222 which receives the other end of thespring 218.

With further reference to FIG. 8, a pivoted link 224 located above plate212, has a nose 228 adapted to coact with an ear 230 provided on theactuator plate 212; The link has a formed end 232 opposite nose 228 andan upwardly projecting arm terminating in a stop surface 234. The link224, in response to restoring the keyset levers to the reference datumposition, is effective to pivot the actuator plate 212 to its firstposition to thereby unlock the locking means and permit subsequentmovement of the platen carriage through a printing stroke.

A blocking member 236 is also-pivotally mounted on the pin 214, adjacentthe actuator plate 212, and is lightly biased by a spring 238 in'acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8. The blocking memberextends forwardly from the pin 214 and is provided with a recess 240 atits bottom edge adapted to coact with the pin 98.

Still referring to FIG. 8, the actuator plate 212 is also provided withan adjustable pusher member in the form of a screw 242 having an endextending towards an car 244 provided on the pawl 70. Assume the partswho in an unblocking position with the actuator plate swung to itsclockwise limit opposite from that shown in FIG. 8. The recess 240 ofthe blocking member will then be raised slightly above the path of thepin 98. As the carriage 14 is moved forward on a printing stroke, the

rocker 84 is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction (from the FIG. 6to the FIG. 8 position) withdrawing the roller 92 away from the pawlthereby permitting clockwise direction. Thus, the ear 244 of the pawl 70contacts the end portion of the screw 242 and pushes the same to causethe actuator plate 212 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction to itsfirst or set position shown in FIG. 8. This pivotal movement of theactuator plate also shifts the position of the overcenter spring 218such that the end of the spring engaged with the notch 216 in theactuator plate is acting upwardly to maintain the actuator plate in theset position.

In the same action of rocker 84, the pin 98 in the rocker 84 has movedsomewhat under a lower surface 246 of the blocking member 236 therebypreventing the blocking member from following the motion of the actuatorplate 212. Spring 238 will be slightly stretched. As the carriage 14 isreturned to the home position, the rocker 84 is pivoted in the oppositedirection withdrawing the pin 98 from beneath the blocking member sothat the latter is drawn into an effective blocking position with therecess 240 engaging the pin 98. The actuator plate 212 remains in theset position as a result of the spring 218 biasing the actuator plate ina counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8, so that nointerference to return of the blocking member to blocking position isoccasioned thereby.

Until such time as the keyset levers of the keyboard 16 are reset to thereference datum position, the actuator plate 212 will remain in the setposition. Therefore, it an attempt is made to perform another printingstroke without resetting the keyset levers, the pin 98 in the rocker 84will be held in the recess 240 of the blocking member and prevent normalpivotal movement of the rocker. The rocker will, therefore, fail todrive the actuator lever 106 through its full normal angle and hence itwill fail to follow the actuating roller 118 on the carriage l4.

The actual stop means for preventing travel of the platen carriage 14 isshown in FIGS. 7 and 9 and comprises a blocking ear 248, formed upwardlyfrom the actuator lever 106, which is adapted to be engaged by a flange250 provided on the leg 180 of the carriage. The position of the ear 248is such that the engagement of the pin 98 by the recess 240 of theblocking member 236 prevents the actuator lever 106 from completing itsnormal counterclockwise pivotal movement, thereby presenting the eardirectly in thepath of the flange 250 as the carriage 14 is moved fromthe home position.

To free the machine for a printing operation, movement of the resetlever 24 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, to restorethe keyset levers to the reference datum position, is effective to causea ledge 25 of the reset lever to strike the end 232 of the link 224thereby pivoting the link in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 8. As the link is pivoted, its nose 228 contacts the ear 230 of theactuator plate 212 and pivots the actuator plate overcenter to itssecond position where it is held by the spring 218. When the reset leveris moved in the opposite direction, the link 224 is pivotally restoredwith its stop surface 234 resting on an edge of the side plate 42.

As the actuator plate 212 is moved to its second position, an ear 252 onthe actuator plate contacts the blocking member 236 and pivotallyrotates the same in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8. In thisposition, the recess 240 of the blocking member is out of the path ofthe pin 98. When the pin 98 is thus allowed to swing, the rocker 84 andthe actuator lever 106 are allowed to complete their pivotal movement asthe laten carriage moves out, thereby allowing the blocking ear 248 onthe actuator lever to move downwardly for enough to clear the path ofthe flange 250.

In addition to the locking arrangement described above, the presentdevice also provides another blocking means to prevent travel of theplaten carriage to its actuated position in those instances where thekeyset levers have been reset to the reference datum position andsubsequently positioned for a printing operation, but at least one ofthe keyset levers was not properly positioned in exact register with itsdetent position. In such a case, the nose 82 of the pawl may squarelystrike the top of one of the teeth of the drive gears 60 thus leavingthe corresponding print wheel in an intermediate position, and the pawl72 is prevented from moving into the notches 74 of the print wheels.Rather, the pawl72 abuts the face of the print wheel and preventsfurther pivotal movement of the rocker 82 and the'actuator lever 106through their complete travel. Thus, the blocking ear 248 is not loweredfar enough to clear the path of the flange 250 and prevents travel ofthe platen carriage to the actuated position.

The design of the pawl 72 and the notches 74 in the print wheels is suchthat the notches provide a depth related to an appropriate difference inthe travel of the pawl 72 in the two situations, and the pawl 72 is sopositioned that it strikes or senses the print wheel face at a time whenthe car 248 has still not entirely cleared the path of the flange 250.Therefore, if the pawl 72 senses the face of the print wheel, and it isnot seated to the full depth in the notch, the actuator lever 106 isprevented from complete travel and, hence, the ear 248 is not lowered toa level to clear the path of the flange 250 when the carriage is movedfrom its home position. The platen carriage is thereby blocked againstprinting movement until such time as the print wheel setting iscorrected.

Keyboard Reset With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the means for restoringthe keyset levers to the zero or reference datum position, i.e., each ofthe keyset levers K1-K3 to the asterisk position and the keyset leversK4 and K5 to the zero position, will now be described.

The reset lever 24 comprises a bail member including a pair of dependingside arms 254 and 256 pivotally supported on the shaft 40. A verticalback wall 258 connects the side arms adjacent their lower ends andincludes a horizontal rib 260 adapted to strike terminal ends 262 of thegear segments 48 when the reset lever is operated. When the reset leveris at the end of its counterclockwise stroke (as shown in FIG. 3) theledge 25 of the reset lever contacts the link 224 and pivots the sameagainst the ear 230 of the actuator plate 212.

Movement of the keyset levers from the reference datum position rotatesthe gear segments 48 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3,moving the ends 262 of the gear segments towards the back wall 258 ofthe reset lever. Subsequently, on completion of a printing operation,the keyset levers are returned to the reference datum position bymanually moving the reset lever 24 in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 3. This movement of the reset lever causes the rib 260 ofthe back wall 258 to strike the ends 262 of the gear segments, therebyrotating the gear segments in the same direction as the reset lever andrestoring the keyset levers to the reference datum position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the keyset levers K2 and K3 are required to be moveda greater distance than the keyset levers Kll, K4 and K5 in order toreach the reference datum position, since each of the keyset levers K2and K3 is provided with an asterisk position ahead of the zero position.Accordingly, the terminal ends 262 of the gear segments 48 associatedwith the keyset levers K2 and K3 are made to extend beyond the ends 262of the other gear segments by an amount corresponding to the additionaltravel required to restore the keyset levers K2 and K3 to the referencedatum position in response to operation of the reset lever 24.

The overcenter weighted arrangement of the reset lever 24, resultingfrom the side arms 254, 256 and the back wall 258, normally urges thereset lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. Therefore,when the reset lever is manually moved to an actuated position torestore the keyset levers to. the reference datum position, on releaseof the keyset lever by the machine operator the reset lever returns to astart position (FIGS. 2 and 3) under its own weight. An extension springmay, if desired, be provided to further bias the reset lever in adirection to maintain the reset lever in the start position. 7

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the back wall'258 is preferably provided witha pair of bumpers 264 and 266 which cushion the stopping of the reset.lever against the edges of the side plates 42 and 44 when the resetlever is returned to the start position.

The fee code lever 22 is provided for positioning the print wheel forimprinted a fee code on the form or money order and is operatedindependently of the other keyset levers. Therefore, while the lever 22is returned to its zero position by the reset lever 24 each time thekeyset levers Kl-KS are restored to the reference datum position, thelever 22 does not ineludes-the camming andtthe arresting meansassociated with the other keyset levers. Rather, the gear segment 48 ofthe lever 22 directly drives the gear train 58, 60 and 62 to positionthe fee code print wheel 20.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present inventionprovides a compact data recorder for imprinting forms withvariabledatafrom selectively positionable print wheelsplt also providesnovel means for restricting the positioning of the keyset levers andtheir corresponding print wheels within a fixed predetermined range, aswell as a reset means for restoring the keyset levers to a referencedatum position. Additionally, there is provided a platen carriagelock-out mechanism to prevent operation of the machine in thoseinstances where the machine operator fails to reset the keyset levers tothe reference datum position following a preceding printing cycle andprior to resetting the keyset levers to a new setting for a subsequentprinting cycle. These combined features result in a data recorder thatis reliable in operation and substantially free of inadvertant operationdue to failure of the operator to reset the print Wheels to a newsetting prior to each printing operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A data recorder comprising:

a bed for holding a form to be imprinted;

a platen carriage movable in a path across the bed from ahome positionto an actuated position and back to home position to perform a printingcycle;

a roller platen supported transversely of the path on the platencarriage;

a plurality of settable print wheels in the bed including a first printwheel and a secondary group of print wheels located for printingcooperation with the roller platen;

a first means including a pivotally supported gear segment drivinglyassociated with each said print wheel for rotating each said print wheelto a desired peripheral setting within a fixed range ineluding a maximumlimit position, said first means having a reference datum position;

control means associated with the print wheels responsive to positioningof the first print wheel to the maximum limit position for preventingfurther positioning of any of the secondary group of print wheels to anyposition within the range, and responsive to positioning of any one ofthe secondary group of print wheels to any position within the range forpreventing positioning of the first print wheel to the maximum limitposition, said control means including:

a. a cam disc carried by and movable with each said gear segment, theperiphery of each said cam disc being provided with a notch positionedat a predetermined angular location;

. b. control members supported for pivotal movement in response tomovement of the gear segments; g

c. resilient means for maintaining the control members in contact witheach of the cam discs;

d. arresting means provided on each said control member adapted formovement into and out of the notches in response to motion of thecontrol member,

whereby movement of the arresting means into the notches is effective tolimit movement of the first means within the fixed range; 2

lock-out means operable in response to the motion of the platen carriagethrough a printing cycle for preventing subsequent movement of theplaten carriage to the actuated position; and

means responsive to movement of the first means to the reference datumposition for unlocking the lock-out means to permit movement of theplaten carriage to the actuated position.

2. A data recorder comprising:

a bed for holding a form to be imprinted;

a platen carriage movable in a path across the be from a home positionto an actuated position and back to home position to perform a printingcycle;

a roller platen supported transversely of the path on the platencarriage;

a plurality of settable print wheels in the bed including a first printwheel and a secondary group of print wheels located for printingcooperation with the roller platen;

a first means including a pivotally supported gear segment drivinglyassociated with each said print wheel for rotating each said print wheelto a desired peripheral setting within a fixed range including a maximumlimit position, said first means having a reference datum position;

control means associated with the print wheels responsive to positioningof the first print wheel to the maximum limit position for preventingfurther positioning of any of the secondary group of print wheels to anyposition within the range, and responsive to positioning of any one ofthe secondary group of print wheels to any position within the range forpreventing positioning of the first print wheel to the maximum limitposition, said control means including:

a. a cam disc carried by and movable with each said gear segment, theperiphery of each said cam disc being provided with a notch positionedat a predetermined angular location;

b. control members supported for pivotal movement in response tomovement of the gear segments;

c. resilient means for maintaining the control members in contact witheach of the cam discs;

d. arresting means provided on each said control member adapted formovement into and out of the notches in response to motion of thecontrol member,

whereby movement of the arresting means into the 1 notches is effectiveto limit movement of the first means within the fixed range.

3. A printing device comprising:

a plurality of settable value printing elements including a first printelement and a secondary group of print elements located for printingcooperation with a document to be imprinted;

positioning means including a pivotally supported member drivinglyassociated with each said print element for selectively positioning eachsaid print element at'a desired setting within a fixed range including amaximum limit position and a reference datum position;

control means including a first cam disc carried by and movable with themember associated with the first print element, and a secondary group ofcam discs each carried by and movable with the members associated withthe secondary group of print elements, the periphery of each of the camdiscs being provided with a radial cam portion and a radially openingarresting notch;

a first control member having a first cam follower ar'- ranged to coactwith the cam portion of said first cam disc and a first blocking fingercoactable with the notches in the secondary group of cam discs whenaligned;

a second control member having a second cam follower arranged to coactwith the cam portion of any cam disc of said secondary group of camdiscs and a second blocking finger coactable with the notch in the firstcam disc;

means urging the control members in a direction to move their camfollowers into engagement with the cam portion or portions of therespective cam disc or discs;

said cam portions and urging means acting on the control members toproject the blocking fingers into notch entering position or retractthem into notch clearing position; said first cam disc having aconfiguration such that its cam portion will cause the first blockingfinger to move to projected position when the first print element is inthe maximum limit position and allow the finger to move to retractedposition when the first print element is in any other position;

the cam discs of the secondary group each having a configuration suchthat its cam portionwill cause the second blocking finger to, move toprojected position when the corresponding print element is in other thana value printing position and, if acting independently, will allow thefingerto move to retracted position for any position of the printelement not representing a value print.

i i i i 8

1. A data recorder comprising: a bed for holding a form to be imprinted;a platen carriage movable in a path across the bed from a home positionto an actuated position and back to home position to perform a printingcycle; a roller platen supported transversely of the path on the platencarriage; a plurality of settable print wheels in the bed including afirst print wheel and a secondary group of print wheels located forprinting cooperation with the roller platen; a first means including apivotally supported gear segment drivingly associated with each saidprint wheel for rotating each said print wheel to a desired peripheralsetting within a fixed range including a maximum limit position, saidfirst means having a reference datum position; control means associatedwith the print wheels responsive to positioning of the first print wheelto the maximum limit position for preventing further positioning of anyof the secondary group of print wheels to any position within the range,and responsive to positioning of any one of the secondary group of printwheels to any position within the range for preventing positioning ofthe first print wheel to the maximum limit position, said control meansincluding: a. a cam disc carried by and movable with each said gearsegment, the periphery of each said cam disc being provided with a notchpositioned at a predetermined angular location; b. control memberssupported for pivotal movement in response to movement of the gearsegments; c. resilient means for maintaining the control members incontact with each of the cam discs; d. arresting means provided on eachsaid control member adapted for movement into and out of the notches inresponse to motion of the control member, whereby movement of thearresting means into the notches is effective to limit movement of thefirst means within the fixed range; lock-out means operable in responseto the motion of the platen carriage through a printing cycle forpreventing subsequent movement of the platen carriage to the actuatedposition; and means responsive to movement of the first means to thereference datum position for unlocking the lock-out means to permitmovement of the platen carriage to the actuated position.
 2. A datarecorder comprising: a bed for holding a Form to be imprinted; a platencarriage movable in a path across the bed from a home position to anactuated position and back to home position to perform a printing cycle;a roller platen supported transversely of the path on the platencarriage; a plurality of settable print wheels in the bed including afirst print wheel and a secondary group of print wheels located forprinting cooperation with the roller platen; a first means including apivotally supported gear segment drivingly associated with each saidprint wheel for rotating each said print wheel to a desired peripheralsetting within a fixed range including a maximum limit position, saidfirst means having a reference datum position; control means associatedwith the print wheels responsive to positioning of the first print wheelto the maximum limit position for preventing further positioning of anyof the secondary group of print wheels to any position within the range,and responsive to positioning of any one of the secondary group of printwheels to any position within the range for preventing positioning ofthe first print wheel to the maximum limit position, said control meansincluding: a. a cam disc carried by and movable with each said gearsegment, the periphery of each said cam disc being provided with a notchpositioned at a predetermined angular location; b. control memberssupported for pivotal movement in response to movement of the gearsegments; c. resilient means for maintaining the control members incontact with each of the cam discs; d. arresting means provided on eachsaid control member adapted for movement into and out of the notches inresponse to motion of the control member, whereby movement of thearresting means into the notches is effective to limit movement of thefirst means within the fixed range.
 3. A printing device comprising: aplurality of settable value printing elements including a first printelement and a secondary group of print elements located for printingcooperation with a document to be imprinted; positioning means includinga pivotally supported member drivingly associated with each said printelement for selectively positioning each said print element at a desiredsetting within a fixed range including a maximum limit position and areference datum position; control means including a first cam disccarried by and movable with the member associated with the first printelement, and a secondary group of cam discs each carried by and movablewith the members associated with the secondary group of print elements,the periphery of each of the cam discs being provided with a radial camportion and a radially opening arresting notch; a first control memberhaving a first cam follower arranged to coact with the cam portion ofsaid first cam disc and a first blocking finger coactable with thenotches in the secondary group of cam discs when aligned; a secondcontrol member having a second cam follower arranged to coact with thecam portion of any cam disc of said secondary group of cam discs and asecond blocking finger coactable with the notch in the first cam disc;means urging the control members in a direction to move their camfollowers into engagement with the cam portion or portions of therespective cam disc or discs; said cam portions and urging means actingon the control members to project the blocking fingers into notchentering position or retract them into notch clearing position; saidfirst cam disc having a configuration such that its cam portion willcause the first blocking finger to move to projected position when thefirst print element is in the maximum limit position and allow thefinger to move to retracted position when the first print element is inany other position; the cam discs of the secondary group each having aconfiguration such that its cam portion will cause the second blockingfinger to move to projected position when the corresponding printelement is in other than a value printing position and, if actingindependently, will allow the finger to move to retracted position forany position of the print element not representing a value print.